[Hypotensive effect of nifedipine in hypertension patients with different functional activity of the sympathetic-adrenal system].

Sympatho-adrenal activity (SAA) was assessed in 67 male patients with essential hypertension and 20 normal subjects. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those with increased (group 1) and normal (group 2) basal SAA. Hyperreactive and normally reactive patients were identified on the basis of plasma norepinephrine elevation in response to one-hour walking in both groups. Therapy with nifedipine alone for 3 weeks was ineffective in hyperreactive first-group patients. The efficiency of nifedipine treatment for essential hypertension may be dependent on baseline sympatho-adrenal activity and reactivity.